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MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: As alliances go, it can't get bigger than this. Or sexier. At least in India. Tata Motors and Fiat, Europe's fifth biggest automaker are finally strengthening their relationship which begun as a low-key distribution and service tie-up last year. In the last week of July, the two companies signed a new memorandum of association (MoU), committing them to a 50:50 joint venture in India which will allow them to use Fiat's facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune, to manufacture passenger cars from both stables as well as engines and transmissions.

MUMBAI: Tatas and Fiat have strengthened their partnership by entering into a 50:50 joint venture in India. On Tuesday, the Italian major provided some early evidence that its overall global strategy of entering into strategic alliances with other global auto companies like Ford, Suzuki and Peugeot was working. Backed by strong sales of its hatchback Punto, Fiat reported a 56% jump in its second-quarter profits, clearly signaling that it could be finally emerging out of the woods.

MUMBAI: In a long-awaited move, Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata and Fiat SpA chairman Sergio Marchionne have decided to shift gears and strengthen a relationship which had begun with a low-key distribution tie-up last year. On Tuesday evening, the companies announced that they had signed a new MoU, which commits the two to a 50:50 joint venture in India. Tata Motors and Fiat now plan to use Fiat's existing facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune, to manufacture passenger cars from both stables as well as engines and transmissions.

MUMBAI: In a long-awaited move, Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata and Fiat SpA chairman Sergio Marchionne have decided to shift gears and strengthen a relationship which had begun with a low-key distribution tie-up last year. On Tuesday evening, the companies announced that they had signed a new MoU, which commits the two to a 50:50 joint venture in India. Tata Motors and Fiat now plan to use Fiat's existing facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune, to manufacture passenger cars from both stables as well as engines and transmissions.

BANGALORE: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is looking at 600 to 800 strategic sites across the country for its retail outlets expansion, a top official of the company said on Wednesday. "Out of these, 250 each will be in North and West zones 200 in South and 100 in East zone," BPCL Executive Director (Retail) Sanjay Krishnamurti said launching the company's high-octane petrol, Speed 97, for high-end cars in one of its outlets here. "Last three years have seen 33 per cent capacity expansion from 2,000 retail outlets in 2003 to 6,600 at present.

MUMBAI: Even though Tata Motors and Fiat recently announced that they were looking at the possibility of working together on passenger cars, the plans don't seem to have gone down well with the dealer community. Fiat dealers are stuck with crores worth of spare parts. While bigger dealers have stocked spare parts worth Rs 60-65 lakh each, the smaller ones stock-in is worth Rs 25 lakh. Production at the Kurla plant has come to a standstill in the aftermath of flooding of Mumbai on July 26. The body and the paint shops were badly damaged then and are expected to start operations only after crores have been spent on repairing them, say sources.

MUMBAI: Even though Tata Motors and Fiat recently announced that they were looking at the possibility of working together on passenger cars, the plans don't seem to have gone down well with the dealer community. Fiat dealers are stuck with crores worth of spare parts. While bigger dealers have stocked spare parts worth Rs 60-65 lakh each, the smaller ones stock-in is worth Rs 25 lakh. Production at the Kurla plant has come to a standstill in the aftermath of flooding of Mumbai on July 26. The body and the paint shops were badly damaged then and are expected to start operations only after crores have been spent on repairing them, say sources.

MUMBAI: Fiat Spa has decided to recall the head of its India operations, Paulo Castagna, who took over as MD at Fiat India just three months ago. Sources said the Indian subsidiary is likely to close down operations in India, sell its land in Kurla, a central suburb of Mumbai, and shift its manufacturing operations to Tata Motors' Pune plant. The Italian parent of the debt-ridden Fiat India recently put in place a new management team at its Indian subsidiary, in an effort to revive its fortunes in the country.

MUMBAI: Indian automobile major Tata Motors and Italy's Fiat on Thursday announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to analyse the feasibility of co-operation across markets in the area of passenger cars, that will encompass development, manufacturing, sourcing and distribution of products, aggregates and components. Following the MoU, a joint team will be set up to determine the feasibility, both in the short and long term. If found feasible, the two companies will enter into definitive agreements in the coming months, a statement said.

MUMBAI: Terming India as a strategic market, struggling auto-maker Fiat on Thursday said it has set a 12-month period for effecting a major restructuring of its operations, including the dealer and service networks, following which it would look at new launches in the market. "India is a strategic market for Fiat and we will take all measures to make it profitable for us," Fiat India Managing Director Paolo Castagna said. The company, which has been in a near-crisis situation following a massive decline in sales and under-utilisation of installed capacity, has of late been taking measures to boost its fortunes in India.